Joe Read online

  “No, that Peter … Peter …” George walked up to Peter. “Son?”

  Peter turned around. He had a lost look in his eyes as he stared down to George. The corner of his mouth raised and he spoke slowly. “Dad.”

  George chuckled. “Oh my God.”

  “You didn’t know?” Margaret said with cynicism.

  “No. I didn’t.”

  She tossed the rag into the bucket. “Well, what do you think happened to him? You cryogenically froze him.”

  “I was told he didn’t make it. I assumed he died.”

  “Well, thank God for the compassionate man that took him along.”

  “How is he?”

  Peter murmured out. “Fine. How… are…you?”

  “I’m good.”

  “Slow.” Margaret said. “Very slow. Like a six year old. But we’re making progress. What are you doing here?”

  “Seeing you.”

  “Well, we’re on our way out.” She lifted the bucket. “Come on Peter.” She motioned her head and began down the aisle.

  “Margaret. Things have changed. People changed. Circumstance …”

  Margaret stopped. “What are you talking about?”

  “Come on. Forty years together, from teens on. You know I love you. I always do and will. Let’s try to make this work.”

  “Lonely George?” She asked.

  “A little and I’m missing you.”

  “Well, why don’t you ask your girlfriend Ellen, I’m sure she’ll cure your loneliness?” With attitude, and bucket splashing, Margaret stormed from the church.

  George chuckled. “She still loves me and needs time, I just need to push things.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, dialing Ellen.

  ****

  The fax took forever to go through. He called Bertha three times; finally Frank scanned it and emailed it. He didn’t know what was going on with the phones, but he wasn’t waiting any longer.

  He mind was preoccupied and when he stepped out of the meeting portion of the office he froze.

  He knew for a fact that he didn’t put Bob on his desk.

  “Fuckin spirits.” Frank shook his head. “What am I gonna do about you?” he lifted the dummy. Bob looked different. He didn’t look as scary as he had ten minutes earlier.

  From what Frank had learned about demons and spirits they didn’t make their presence known constantly. Bob was proof of that. But to make sure no one else go affected, Frank was going to keep Bob with him.

  The demon would have to go through Frank first.

  Bob tucked under his arm. Frank prepared to go to Containment. It was Joe Day and, he really hadn’t spent much time with Ellen. That was his afternoon.

  He was a little surprised when his phone rang and saw it was the secret number.

  “Hello?” Frank answered.

  “Hey,” it was Dean. “What’s going on?”

  “Just fighting a little demonic possession that’s all. What’s going on with you? Did you need something?”

  “Yeah.” Dean’s voice sounded different, sad.

  “What’s up?”

  “Frank. Jason is not around. He left. I’m out here by myself.”

  “You need someone to come out and keep you company?”

  “Actually, Frank, I need you to come up with a solution.” Dean said.

  “To?”

  “Me? The clone.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I miss Ellen, Frank. I miss my kids. Can you put on your thinking cap,” Dean requested. “I want to come home.”

  ****

  Alexandra had waited all day. She knew that Miss Jenny was going to have show and tell just before they went on their field trip to Joe Day at Containment. Alex wanted to go to that, After all, it was about her Pap.

  But she also really wanted to bring out her Show and tell.

  Billy brought a cool ruler. Boring.

  Greg Junior brought his really old doll. That was boring too. But Alex was a good student, and buddy. She applauded and acted interested. She tried her hardest to hide her impatience.

  Finally.

  “Alex,” Jenny called her. “Come up here. It’s your turn.”

  She was excited. Billy wished her luck. Alex knew she was going to have the bestest ever show and tell.

  No one in Beginnings had anything like it.

  She toted her large book bag to the front of the class room.

  “I want you to meet my friend. I dressed him up in Barbie’s clothes and I think he looks pretty.”

  She put the book bag on Jenny’s desk.

  “What do you have there, Sweetie?” Jenny asked.

  Alex undid the buckle on the bag.

  ****

  Jess Boyens had worked the night shift at Containment. Admittedly he cheated and watched some of the practices, that was until the residents caught on and kicked him out.

  They wanted this show to be special.

  Jess knew it was going to be special all right.

  He stopped at Richie’s house to make sure he was going to be there.

  Jess didn’t mind sacrificing sleep. He really wanted to catch the show that was exclusive and invitation only.

  He looked forward to the show then spending the rest of the day quietly. It was going to be a good afternoon, a quiet one.

  Just as he had those thoughts, the doors to the school burst open and Jenny led the pack of children. They all screamed. Hands waving in the air, blood curdling screams.

  “Holy shit.” Jess grabbed for his radio. “Security, come in. Something is going on at the school.”

  Jenny, out of breath, rushed the children back. “Stay clear. Stay clear. Jess!” She rushed to him, “Alex is still in there. She wouldn’t leave. She is there. Help her.”

  Jess rushed toward the school, if Alexandra was there. If she was in danger he had to help her. He paused. “What’s going on in there, Jenny?”

  “Killer Baby.”

  “Fuck.” Jess grabbed his radio before embarking in the school. “Security, send Frank.”

  What Jess didn’t know was Frank was right there. He heard Jess call and rushed to the school just in time to hear his name over the radio.

  With a ‘Hold this, watch out he’s possessed’ Frank gave Bob the dummy to Jenny and caught up to Jess.

  “That was fast,” Jess said, reaching for the door.

  “What’s the situation?’

  “Killer Baby and Alex.”

  “Fuck.” Frank whipped out his revolver and without hesitation, burst in the door. He really didn’t fear the Killer Baby, or rather toddler for himself, he was worried about Alexandra.

  Jess was right behind him.

  As soon as Frank emerged into the school, he saw Alex sitting on top of the desk. She was all right. He breathed out a sigh in relief. “Stay back, Jess.” He whispered. “Alex, honey, don’t move.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “There’s a …” Frank looked to Jess. “Did they say Killer Baby or Killer Toddler?”

  “Baby.”

  “Haven’t seen a baby in a while must be one of the new ones.” He aimed his voice back to Alex. “Honey there’s a Killer Baby in here somewhere. Do you know where?”

  “No. That’s what Miss Jenny said, too. But I didn’t see him. She screamed when I brought out my show and tell. See.” She held the Killer Fetus up.

  “What the hell is that?” Jess asked.

  “My missing fetus. Thank God.” Frank put his gun away. “It’s safe Jess. It’s not dangerous.” Frank walked to Alexandra. “Alex, where did you find him?”

  “He was on the dining room table eating my new Barbie.”

  “I knew I left him at the house.”

  Quickly Jess looked at Frank. “You left a Killer Fetus at the house.”

  “He’s a nibbler. Harmless.”

  Alex showed Frank and Jess. “Doesn’t he look pretty?”

  “Yeah.” Frank took Harry. “But Alex, he can be danger
ous to tiny fingers.”

  “No, no, I just flick him like …” She reached up and flicked the fetus. “That. Can I keep him?”

  “No, a pet is a big responsibility. Even I have trouble keeping track of them.”

  “What are you going to do with him?”

  “I’m gonna give him to your … to your …” Frank pouted in the thought of Dean. The real Dean. “I’m gonna give him back to your dad when he comes home. He was working with him.”

  “My Dad isn’t going to kill him, is he?”

  Frank bobbed his head. “He might.”

  “Frank!” Jess scolded. “That’s wrong.”

  “What? It’s the truth. Shit.”

  “What?”

  “I left Jenny with my possessed dummy.” Frank took a step, stopped, kissed Alex, and then started to leave again. He made it a few steps, stopped again, and darted back to Jess.

  “You aren’t going to kiss me now are you?” Jess asked.

  “Man …” Frank shook his head. “I’m every gay man’s desire. No, hold him.” He gave Harry to Jess.

  Jess peeped a shriek. “What am I supposed to do with him?’

  “Watch him until I get back. Don’t put your fingers near his mouth and … don’t give him to her.” Frank instructed then headed to the door.

  Jess held the fetus outward. It squirmed in his hand and hissed as if he didn’t like Jess. “God, I have to watch you?”

  “Want me to hold him?” Alexandra asked. “He loves me.”

  After a quick peek to the door, Jess nodded. “Yeah.” He handed Harry over. “Just don’t tell Frank.”

  Frank emerged from the school and Jenny gasped.

  “Frank.” She said sobbing. “Please don’t tell me.”

  “Everything’s fine.”

  She sighed out. “Thank God. I envisioned limbs. Blood. You name it.”

  “You’ll have that. But fortunately the fetus doesn’t eat flesh entirely yet. It’s under control and secure, you can take the kids back.” Frank’s eyes shifted down to Bob still in her arms. “Thanks for watching him.”

  “Oh, sure, no problem.” Jenny handed him back.

  “He didn’t bite you did he?”

  “What?”

  “Bite you. See he has this …” Frank proceeded to open Bob’s mouth.

  “No he didn’t bite.”

  “Talk to you?”

  “No. He didn’t talk to me either.”

  “Well, that’s good. That’s a good sign. Thanks.” Frank, Bob in his hold walked toward the clinic.

  Jenny stood watching him totally dumbfounded.

  ****

  Frank really wanted to talk for Bob, but being slightly fearful that Bob would get upset since he could take for himself, Frank just carried him.

  He found Andrea in her office and he knocked.

  “Got a minute?” He asked.

  Andrea looked at her watch. “Yes, then I have to head over to Containment for the residents Joe Day.”

  “I’m going, too, so I’ll walk you.”

  “Sounds wonderful. Have a seat.”

  Frank shut the door and pulled up a seat. “Thanks.”

  “I wanted to speak to you too.”

  “You go first.”

  “Well, mine is pretty disturbing.”

  “So is mine.”

  “Maybe we’re going to be talking about the same subject,” Andrea suggested.

  “Who knows? Go ahead.”

  Andrea opened her mouth.

  “It might be.”

  “It might be what?” she asked.

  ‘The same thing. I read some of your thoughts, after I got passed all the God thoughts you have. Go on.”

  “Frank, I’m gonna cut straight to the chase.” She folded her hands on her desk. “There’s some horrible news in Beginnings about you.”

  “Wow. Ok, what?”

  Andrea lifted her hand. “It is very disturbing to me, so I’ll be gentle. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I had no idea …”

  “Andrea, what?”

  She heaved out a breath. “You have a bastard child.”

  Frank stared.

  “Frank?”

  “Repeat that?”

  “You have a bastard child.”

  Frank laughed.

  “What? What is so funny?”

  “You. You act like you didn’t know.”

  “I didn’t,” she said.

  “Andrea, please, is there another name you want to call him.”

  “By his first name.”

  “Well,” Frank shrugged. “That’s better than bastard. Although, there have been things that he did that would make him a bastard in some people’s eyes.”

  “What’s his first name Frank?”

  “John.”

  “Who is the heathen mother, because when I get my hands on her …?”

  “She’s dead.”

  Andrea sat back. “Dead. When?”

  “When the plague hit.”

  “Huh?” Andrea scratched her head.

  “You asked who his mother was. Kelly is his mother. Man, what is up with all the women in this town not knowing her name.”

  “John as in Johnny.”

  “Yes.”

  “Not him, your other child.”

  “Joey?” Frank asked.

  “Not him.”

  “Brian.”

  “Frank!” Andrea yelled. “You told Dean that you didn’t want anyone to know about your child that was in the clinic.”

  “Yeah. Johnny. He was here.”

  “Johnny was here?” Andrea asked.

  “I wanted him cleared to fly. Not fly with his arms, but fly jets.”

  “You mean you don’t have another child to someone else other than Ellen?”

  “Why would I want to do that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “The answer is no. Just Kelly. That’s it.”

  “Oh. What a relief. I was going to be upset with you plowing another field.” Andrea rested her hand on her chest.

  “Andrea, I don’t farm. I tried.”

  “Yes. So, what did you need to discuss with me.”

  “Well, you’re pretty religious, right?”

  “I like to believe so.”

  “So am I once and a while, so I figured you’d be the best one.”

  “Go on.”

  “How do you cure possession?” Frank asked.

  “Well, you’d need to find a priest.”

  “Like Father O-Brian?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will it matter if he’s drunk?” Frank asked.

  “It might. He’ll need to exorcize whoever is possessed.”

  “Exercise, like jumping jacks?”

  “Frank …”

  “Cause I can take him when I do PT.”

  “No. No.” She waved out her hand. “Exorcize. It’s a ritual. Who … who is possessed?”

  “Bob’s possessed”

  “Bob? Bob from the future?”

  “No, Bob.” Frank lifted the dummy. “Don’t be scared.”

  “Sweet Jesus, Frank. Are you telling me that doll is possessed?”

  “Yes, like Chucky.”

  “What is possessing him?”

  “Satan, demon, my Dad.” Frank stared at her.

  “You think Joe is in that doll.”

  “He might be.”

  “Why do you say that?” questioned Andrea.

  “Because one, he moved on his own. I saw it. Two he thought like my dad, and three when I poked him he said ow, like my dad.”

  “Sweet Jesus.”

  “Could be him too.”

  Andrea covered her hand. “We need to find out.”

  “He’s been quiet.”

  “Maybe Joe left him.”

  “And went into someone else,” Frank said. “You know as well as I do his spirit has been bopping along Beginnings.”

  “Don’t I know it?” She sat back. “Well, I’ll keep an eye out and ask him the next ti
me I feel his spirit.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  The phone rang.

  “Dr. Winters,” Andrea answered.

  “I’ll let you go,” Frank whispered.

  Andrea saw Frank stand to leave. She snapped her finger for him to wait. “We’ll be right out.” She hung up.

  “What’s up?”

  Andrea stood and walked around the desk. “Ellen called said there’s a problem with the show. She asked us to step outside.”

  Frank grabbed Bob and led the way from Andrea’s office, down the hall. They didn’t even need to leave the clinic to see the problem. A line of people formed from Containment.

  The moment they stepped outsider, Ellen raced over. “They all want to see Joe Day,” she said.

  “Well, do you blame them?” Andrea said. “This is a talked about production.”

  “What should I do?” Ellen asked. “Any suggestions. I don’t want to turn anyone away.”

  “Like God, you won’t. Perfect solution,” Andrea said. “We’ll go to the church. Should hold everyone.”

  “Thanks, Andrea.” Ellen smiled and ran back to the line.

  “And …” Andrea faced Frank. “This will help you too.”

  “How so?”

  “If Bob is demonically possessed he’ll react in church. The Devil hates the Lord’s house.”

  “Yeah, but Andrea? So did my dad.”

  At that, even though slightly offended, Andrea laughed.

  ****

  Bob didn’t react, not at all and that made Frank happy. Even when he doused him with Holy Water, Bob remained in control.

  The Beginnings church was packed.

  There wasn’t a seat available and there individuals standing in the back. In fact, it was more packed than on Christmas.

  Shops were closed, it was the talk of town.

  Hal was grateful that Frank saved him a seat. After viewing the show, he didn’t know if he’d still be grateful.

  But then again, it was about his father.

  Ben from Fabrics was the MC.

  “Thank you, thank you for coming out tonight. Wow. I didn’t expect this,” Ben said. “Sorry for the delay, but as you well know we had to relocate the karaoke system. Cookies and punch are located in the church vestibule and for the Slagel family we have alcohol.”

  Hal leaned to Frank. “Perhaps I should get some alcohol now.” He smiled that smug Hal smile and crossed his legs.

  Ben continued, “And without further ado. I give you Joe Day.”

  He walked over to the system and started music.

  The song, New York New York, by Sinatra started to play. The karaoke version that was.